Jesse Rector (1) was born 22 Dec 1759 in Fauquier County, Virginia. He was the son of Jacob Rector and Mary Ann Hitt. He died in Bedford, Lawrence County, IN 22 Jan 1843.
We do not currently know the name of Jesse's first wife (the mother of Samuel Rector, who's bloodline is followed through the rest of this website). Since Samuel was their oldest child, and he was born in August 1780, we can assume Jesse and she were married prior to 1780. There are some family trees that list her as Sally Holtzclaw, but that is incorrect. The Sally Holtzclaw these trees list was born in 1778, which makes it impossible for her to be the mother of Jesse's older children (Samuel was born in 1780). In addition, that Sally Holtzclaw married a Joel Rector. Not Jesse. Other sites list an Elizabeth Taylor as his first wife, with absolutely no proof that this woman was his wife, or that she even existed during this time period. I am not sure why people are nott looking at the dates and thinking about the reality, but these falsehoods just keeps getting spread. Regardless, because Jesse married his second wife in February1802, the first wife must have died before that. If anyone reading this has additional information about this Jesse Rector's first wife, please email me and I'll update this page and we can solve a long-standing mystery.
Like his older brother, James, Jesse Rector was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. According to Ruth Y. Rector's website, Jesse served with the Virginia Militia as a foot soldier. Jesse and James both participated in the siege of Yorktown in October, 1781, which culminated in Lord Cornwallis' surrender to George Washington on October 19, 1781. They served under Captain Dudley, Virginia Troops, at the siege of Yorktown. Ruth Rector said that Jesse "stood with soldiers on the surrendered field when Cornwallis capitulated to George Washington. He was refused a pension because he served only three and a half months before the war was over, and six months of service was necessary to qualify for a pension."
According to the Yorktown national Historical Park literature, "The American victory at Yorktown, the last major battle of the American Revolution, secured independence for the United States and significantly changed the course of world history". His first child, Samuel, was a little over a year old when Jesse fought at Yorktown. The following is a copy of a letter received in July 1931 in response to inquiries regarding Jesse's military records, and it was reprinted in The Rector's of Wayne County, referenced above:
Veteran Administration
Washington
July 16, 1931
This letter refers to your file number.
In reply refer to
Rev. and 1812 Wars Section
M.E. Gaston
Glenwood, Iowa
Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R, 8639, that Jesse Rector was born December 26, 1750 (sic), in Fauquier Co., Va. The names of his parents are not given.
After the Revolution, he resided for 4 or 8 years in the state of VA. then moved to North Carolina, where he lived for 5 years: from thence returned to Va. where he lived for 30 years; then moved to the state of Indiana.
While residing in Shawswick Township, Lawrence County, Indiana, he applied for pension November 11, 1833, and alleged that while living in Fauquier County, Virginia, he enlisted in the summer or fall of 1780 for a 3 months tour, officer's names not stated, but when his company was ready to start for headquarters, he was taken with a severe attack of sickness and was unable to perform any duty: that he again enlisted about September 1, 1781, served as a Private under Captain Dudley, Virginia Troops, and was at the siege of Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis, after which he marched to Portsmouth and assisted in tearing down some breastworks and then went to the sea coast on an expedition against the Tories and captured part of them, length of service 3 months and 10 days.
His claim was not allowed as was required by the pension law under which he applied.
It was not stated that the soldier was ever married.
Very truly yours,
A.D. Hiller
Asst. to Administration
Since there are 3 Jesse's in my genealogy, I'll refer to this Jesse Rector from now on as Jesse Rector (1), or Jesse (1).
Jesse (1) and his first wife (currently unknown) had 9 children:
1. Samuel Rector, born 10 Aug 1780 (Fauquier Co., VA), moved to Wayne County, Kentucky around 1807, married Ruth Ann "Rutha" Simpson on 14 Feb 1807 in Wayne County, Kentucky. Samuel died 21 Mar 1862 at Rector's Flat, Kentucky. This is my direct ancestor. Click on his link for more information about Samuel and Rutha's descendants.
2. Jane Jennie Rector was born abt 1785 in Rowan County, NC. She first married Joseph Parker (1752-1819) and moved to Monroe Co., WV. They likely had the following children: Jesse Parker (1799-1847); Joseph Parker (1801-1883); Samuel Parker (1804-1871); Mary "Polly" Parker (1807-1888); David Parker (1809-1871); Rachel Parker (1812-1843); William Parker (1815-1900); Andrew Parker (1817-1865). Second she married John Jones (1786-1848) with whom she had the following children: Mary Jane Jones (1824-1869); John Monroe Jones (1827-1890). This Jane Rector is listed on the 1860 U.S. Federal census as being 65 years old, born in North Carolina. She was living with her son John M. Jones and his family in District 39, Monroe, Virginia. This county later became Monroe County, West Virginia in 1863.
3. Mary Rector, born 1787 (Rowan Co., NC), possibly married M.R. Jones (b. abt 1785)?I have no proof for any of this entry for Mary Rector. Take it with a grain of salt.
4. Leona Rector, born abt 1790 (Rowan Co., NC), possibly married a Foley around 1807? However, Leona Rector is one of the people that I have not been able to find any confirming documentation on. I have also seen reference to a Thomas Huff who married a Leona Rector around this time in Grayson, VA. Very confusing.
5. Susannah "Susan" Rector, born 1794 (Grayson Co., VA). In 1810 at Raleigh, North Carolina she married Thomas Zachariah Hanks (1786-1832); she died abt 1879 at Malvern, Mills Co., Iowa. Thomas Hanks was the son of Joshua Hanks (1760-1854) and Ruth Bryant (1764-1840)). They had at least the following children: Jesse Hanks (1811-1892); Ruth Hanks (b. abt 1814); David Hanks (1818-1880); Elizabeth Hanks (1820-1903); Thomas Jefferson Hanks (1824-1918); also possibly William Hanks (b. abt 1829); and Benjamin Lafayette Hanks?
6. Elizabeth Rector, born 21 Apr 1795 at Grayson Co., VA. She married Thomas Parker (a son of Joseph Alexander Parker (1751-1819) and Mary Hutchens (b. abt 1752); Thomas was born about 1790 at Virginia, d. 25 Jun 1840 at Jackson, Ohio). Elizabeth and Thomas Parker married in 1810 in Grayson Co., VA. They moved to Jackson County, Ohio and had the following children; Thomas Parker (b. abt 1811); Leannah Parker (1813-1850); Jane Parker (1815-1851); James A. Parker (b. abt 1819); Mary Caroline Parker (1821-1895); Joseph Parker (1823-1860); David Jackson Parker (1829-1888); Emily G. Parker (b. abt 1831); John Henry Parker (1833-1843); Chloe Parker (1835-1854). Thomas Parker died in 1840, and Elizabeth moved westward to Mills County, Iowa in 1855 with her daughter, Mary, and her husband, Stephen Dutcher Davis (1820-1902). Elizabeth Rector Parker died in Malvern, Iowa in 1879. click here for a list of Elizabeth (Rector) and Thomas Parker's children.
7. Jonathan I. Rector, born 1796 (Grayson Co., VA), died 1809 (Grayson Co.).
8. Joseph William Rector, born either 23 Dec 1797 or 24 Dec 1798 in Grayson Co., VA; he lived in Linton, Green Co., Indiana and died on 6 Apr 1891 at Greene Co., Indiana. On 29 May 1821 at Lawrence County, Indiana, Joseph William Rector married Mary Polly McBride (b. abt 1798 in North Carolina, d.3 Jun 1866 at Greene, Indiana). click here for a list of Joseph and Mary (McBride) Rector's children.
9. Margaret Rector, I am not sure about her birthdate. I have seen some public trees that list her birth as early as 1793 in Grayson Co., VA. I have also seen references to her being born abt 1800 in Grayson County, Virginia. However, she d. 22 Aug 1875 at Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana; and she married Lewis Phipps (b. 19 Jul 1783 at VA ; d. 22 Nov 1858 at IN). They had at least the following children: possibly Benjamin Phipps (b. 1820); James Whitaker Phipps (1821-1884); Frances Phipps (b. 1823); Jesse Phipps (1825-1901); Joseph Phipps (1827-1864 - died at the battle of Franklin in Tennessee during Civil War); John Phipps (1830); Mary Phipps (1832-1924); Julius Phipps (1834-1869); and Elizabeth Phipps (1838).
On February 2, 1802 Jesse married his second time, to a much younger woman named Margaret Winford. Margaret Winford was born 27 Sep 1778 at Rectortown, Fauquier County, Virginia.It is possible her parents were Alexander and Margaret (LNU) Winford of Kent, Delaware - no proof. She died 16 April 1852 in Indiana. They had 8 children (all born in Grayson Co., VA). Jesse Rector (1) and Margaret (Winford) Rector moved their family into Lawrence County, Indiana about 1821.
The 8 children of Jesse Rector's second marriage to Margaret Winford are:
10. Levi Eli Rector, born 2 Dec 1803 at Grayson Co., VA and died 10 Jan 1892 in Lawrence Co., Indiana. On 16 Dec 1831, Levi married Cynthia Arminda Simms (1812-1887) at Lawrence County, Indiana. They likely had the following children: John Rector (1835-1917); Margaret Jane Rector (1838-1857); Isaac Rector (1841-1920); Sarah Rector (1844-1933); Lucinda Rector (1846-1926)
11. Rhoda Rector, born July 6, 1806 at Grayson, VA, died 1821.
12. Alexander Rector, born 10 Dec 1808 at Grayson, VA, died abt 1843?
13. Rebecca Rector, born 25 October 1811 at Grayson Co, VA. Probably never married, was living with her brother, Isaac, in the 1880 census. Died 3 Mar 1895 in Washington, DC, but is buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Bedford, Lawrence Co, Indiana
14. Isaac Rector, born April 23, 1816, died 1899. In 1841 Isaac married Julia Gardiner (1817-1879). Julia was the daughter of James Booker Gardiner (1788-1837) and Mary Polly Pool (1799-1869). Isaac and Julia had 7 children: James G. Rector (1842-1861), Charles Poole Rector (b. abt 1949); Jesse Winford Rector (1844-1920); Mary M. Rector (1850-1921); Albert Rector (1861-1861); Harriet T Hattie Rector (1857-1874); Edward Rector (b. 7 Jul 1863, d. 1925, married Lucy Rowland). Note: Isaac's youngest son, Edward, was a benefactor of DePauw University. Also, Isaac applied for and received membership in the Sons of the American Revolution based on his father, Jesse's, service.
15. Chloe Rector, born August 22, 1818. Chloe married William McBride (1816-1890) on 30 Aug 1838 at Lawrence County, Indiana. They had at least the following children: Edward Alexander McBride (1839-1931); Julie R. McBride (b. abt 1842); John W. McBride (1844-1864); Sarah A. McBride (1956-1929)
16. a child who died at birth.
17. Jonathan Rector (2), born August 7, 1821.
Jesse Rector (1) died 22 Jan 1843 at Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana. His second wife, Margaret Winford Rector, was born 27 Sep 1778 (probably in Delaware) and she died 16 Apr 1852 at Lawrence Co., Indiana. Jesse was likely her second husband. There is some evidence that she was originally married to Isaac Adams (1775-1800) abt 1792.
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last updated 5 Jan 2022